Thursday Thanks #20

I'm so happy to be sitting on the couch right now, laptop in my lap, starting this post. I am enjoying my quiet time to reflect on the past several days.

We've been busy, and I've been carrying around a lot of stress and anxiety about things that were somewhat beyond my control. My post-vacation, end-of-summer to-do list was very long, and I was worried that I would not be able to enjoy the last week of summer with my kids.

The things I was worried about have turned out just fine, and in retrospect I shouldn't have spent all of that time on worry. Our to-do list is steadily getting shorter. We've completed our school supply purchases and gotten Mister J's library card. We met the kids' teachers today, and are looking forward to the first day of school next week.

I've let all of these 'big' things crowd my mind, and finding time to be thankful was not at the top of my priority list. But I do have plenty of things for which to be thankful.

A dear friend who celebrated a birthday.
A minimum of silliness from the kids while we had portraits made for the church directory.
Running into friends at lunch on Saturday afternoon.
Kids that were well-behaved at lunch on Saturday afternoon.
Being welcomed back to Bible study after missing the last two meetings.
That Mister J didn't actually get sick, though his queasiness kept us home from the pool early in the week.
That we did make it to the pool the next day, and even had pizza delivered for dinner (a real treat!).
Enjoying the last summer kids' movie at a local theatre.
Running into friends at the movie theatre - the first unexpected surprise of the week.
Winning a prize from my friend's contest - the second unexpected surprise of the week.
My $5 subscription to Real Simple - the first issue arrived this week.
Comments on my recent blog posts and photos uploaded to facebook - always so encouraging!
Time to run errands with Mister J today - I enjoyed the one-on-one time that is so rare.

I'm also thankful for the lesson that I have learned this week.

Amidst the worry and to-dos, when I'm overtired and even cranky, I have so much for which to be thankful - and those things are just the small stuff.

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18